Oxwall 1.3: Private Groups, User Block, Invite Friends, etc.

The long awaited Oxwall 1.3.0 is finally here after extensive quality and beta testing. A huge thank you goes to all the testers for their participation.

Don’t forget to BACK UP YOUR SITE before starting the update. This essential step could save you serious headache in case anything goes wrong. Once again, these are the steps required for a proper update:

  1. Back up your site;
  2. Update the platform (Instructions);
  3. Update all of the installed plugins;
  4. Update your themes;
  5. Enjoy the new version;

New Features

Private Groups (as suggested by users)
This new plugin allows users to create Private Groups, invisible to others. New members can be invited either by admins or by other group members.


Private Forum
Admins and Moderators can now create Private Forums for specific User Roles.

Block Users (as suggested by users)
Users can now block each other. Once blocked, a user will no longer be able to send IM/PM, become friends, follow and add comments to content of the block initiator. Blocking a user will immediately sever all Friendship and Follow links.

Major Improvements

Invite Friends
We’ve completely revamped Invite Friends feature, which is now compatible with new Facebook and Google APIs.

Mass Mailing
User roles can now be selected for mass mailing.

WYSISYG Editor
WYSISYG editor was replaced by simple text area for mobile devices.

Enhancements and Bugfixes

Unsubscribe
We’ve added an additional step to confirm unsubscription.

Maintenance Page
Maintenance Page login link was added for easier Admin access in case the page needs disabling.

Verification Mail
The system no longer sends two emails at once – instead it sends a Verification Letter first, and then a Welcome Letter after the verification.

Google Chrome Attachments
Issue with incorrectly displaying full-size attached pictures in Google Chrome fixed.

Events Improved
Events End Date completely reworked to appear after check-box is ticked.

Mass Mailing Variables
Variables can be added to the Subject now.

User Profile and Dashboard Pages
Minor improvements for these pages management through the Admin Area.

Privacy Improvements
Private album bug fixed.

To prevent any questions regarding the Auto Update – it will appear in your Admin Area within 24 hours after the launch of the update. We hope you like the new release. Do tell us what you think in the forum or in the comments bellow.

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26 thoughts on “Oxwall 1.3: Private Groups, User Block, Invite Friends, etc.

  1. I just updated to new version and got 500 internal server error – from the forum i realised the problem seems to be with the newsfeed plugin, so i did what others did uninstall the newsfeed pluging and site works then reinstall and update (I did this it still didn’t work) so i deleted the newsfeed plugin completely and downloaded again from the store and uploaded..still getting the same problem…please help as i am now back to using the status update and latest activity – really need newsfeed guys 🙂

    • Looks like you still have some plugins that require updating. Remember, after you update your platform, you need to update ALL of your plugins as well. The error might appear if you have even one not updated plugin.

  2. Hi Zima

    None of my plugins are showing they need updating…After updating platform core it went a 500 internal server error. I then updated all the plugins that showed they needed updating..still 500 server error..Then from reading the forum i realised people were having problems with the groups plugin and newsfeed plugin..I didnt uninstall the groups plugin as it said i would loose all data but the groups works fine for me only the newsfeed plugin causing a problem…I noticed some said they renamed the plugin folders and got things to work, but im not confident in what i would be doing..

    • OK, you need to manually update the Newsfeed plugin. Do the following:

      1. Download the Newsfeed plugin from the Store;
      2. Unpack it;
      3. Upload the unpacked folder to the ow_plugins directory;
      4. Go to your Admin Area and press the Update Plugins DB button;

      Should do the trick.

  3. Found one issue.

    While sending the mass emails after clicking the submit button, it is showing the following error.

    OW Debug – Vardump

    array
    (
    [0] => BASE_CLASS_Mail#1
    (
    [BASE_CLASS_Mail:state] => array
    (
    [recipientEmailList] => array
    (
    [0] => swaroop_2807@yahoo.com
    )
    [sender] => array
    (
    [0] => swaroop_2807@yahoo.com
    [1] => bizarrefolks
    )
    [subject] => hi
    [textContent] => hi

    To unsubscribe from this mailing list please click here: http://www.bizarrefolks.com/unsubscribe/1/7bdd24eebf3c6af8937239797bb752d6
    [htmlContent] => null
    [sentTime] => null
    [priority] => 3
    [replyTo] => null
    [senderSuffix] => 0
    )
    )
    [1] => BASE_CLASS_Mail#2
    (
    [BASE_CLASS_Mail:state] => array
    (
    [recipientEmailList] => array
    (
    [0] => swaroopreddy.biotech@gmail.com
    )
    [sender] => array
    (
    [0] => swaroop_2807@yahoo.com
    [1] => bizarrefolks
    )
    [subject] => hi
    [textContent] => hi

    To unsubscribe from this mailing list please click here: http://www.bizarrefolks.com/unsubscribe/2/571bb1a18182e6a257120873572f4333
    [htmlContent] => null
    [sentTime] => null
    [priority] => 3
    [replyTo] => null
    [senderSuffix] => 0
    )
    )
    [2] => BASE_CLASS_Mail#3
    (
    [BASE_CLASS_Mail:state] => array
    (
    [recipientEmailList] => array
    (
    [0] => swaroop@errago.com
    )
    [sender] => array
    (
    [0] => swaroop_2807@yahoo.com
    [1] => bizarrefolks
    )
    [subject] => hi
    [textContent] => hi

    To unsubscribe from this mailing list please click here: http://www.bizarrefolks.com/unsubscribe/3/a4ab96282dd09ca26f201d1b12bf2f84
    [htmlContent] => null
    [sentTime] => null
    [priority] => 3
    [replyTo] => null
    [senderSuffix] => 0
    )
    )
    )

    Type: Array

    Please let me know hoe to solve it.
    Thanks,
    Admin-bizzarefolks.com

    • This issue emerges when the new platform clashes with old plugins. Try the following:

      1. Download the Newsfeed plugin from the Store;
      2. Unpack it;
      3. Upload the unpacked folder to the ow_plugins directory;
      4. Go to your Admin Area and press the Update Plugins DB button;

  4. How do I assign someone to a default ‘member’ group after they have been verified?
    Guest = viewing only, no privileges
    Member = normal privileges

  5. Hello everyone at Oxwall… I would like to say, GREAT update… both took place with no problems. Haven’t gotten started on the groups yet to try them out, sadly, all interest fizzled out and hopefully we can rekindle it down the road. In either case, thumbs up.

    Now… this is something else I’ve noticed and I can’t help but wonder is it in the works. On “My Profile” – WHY is it that I and others can post on my wall, BUT – no comments can be made from there? Nor anyone elses Profile page? So – uhhh, is there anything to come down the road… where I can set everyone to come into the site on their own Profile page, instead of the MAIN – where everything ends up? See, the problem is… topics, threads get lost in the Main – as new comments there push other comments made further down until they disappear from the first page.

    IF everyone commented on their on WALL in their Profile – the topics they make wouldn’t disappear IF their “Friends” come comment on them from their Profile instead of on the Main page. Just a thought… it would be nice.

    Again however… back to the thumbs up for the works already done… brilliant!

    • Yes, but this is sort-of a log of a user’s activity on the site, so whoever looks at it can get all the necessary information on the user. The entire activity and activities of friends and followers can be found under Newsfeed User Dashboard.

      • Emmm, yes I know… but still, not the same. Also, when someone posts on something you started or commented on, it would be nice if notification of that new comment/reply came in the email as well. Many times I wished that there was a notifier of replies and comments, because some have been placed, @MKeyes – and I never knew it was there, so the answer from me didn’t come until days later, even up to a week… because other members came in, made a new topic – which sent the one I was mentioned on… down the page.

        Anyway… just thought I’d toss these couple of suggestions in… I know it’s not simple as 1, 2, 3, building a social community like this. Regardless of my further desires, I simply love it… great job thus far!!!

  6. I cant seem to see the new features of group on my oxwall 1.3.1 fresh new installation from my webservers built in installatron. please advice is something wrong with my version? i tried downloading the groups of from the market to update it but after doing so the show site displays error ” http://ilearning-centre.com/resource/500.phtml ” Please advice.

  7. Hi There,

    I need someones help that is really good with Databases.

    I want to move the entire site to my new C-Panel hosting but I’m really not a great programmer or have any experience with Database migration so if there is someone that can walk me through it step by step (like I’m a tard 🙂 or even just do it for me that would be way cool.

    Thanks, just email me admin@iastra.net
    Alex

  8. Hi. I have activated the Facebook connect, and it works fine as far as joining the site and logging in is concerned. However, the “Invite Friends” function does not seem to work. When I click on the Facebook icon, it does open the dialogue box, and I am able to select friends.

    However, after clicking on invite, the box disappears and the Facebook contacts do not receive any notification. Is there something that I am doing wrong here, it terms of configuration etc ?

    Your inputs would be highly appreciated.

    Thanks & Regards

    Rajiv

Comments are closed.